A Publication of Notre Dame Senior Alumni
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November, 2011
Contents
Mike McCoy: Removing Landmines
Down Syndrome
ND Seniors Making a Difference
Jack Fitzpatrick's Unique Path
To Becoming An Alum
Seventy Somethings and Second Graders
Senior Alumni Project Competition
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Decisions determine our destiny. The things we allow to influence us, our friends, our culture, our environment and our thoughts will determine who we are and what we will become. There is nothing we can do about yesterday (except learn from it) but if we want to change tomorrow, we have to look at today because tomorrow becomes today very quickly. Mike McCoy, a native of Erie, PA and Cathedral Prep High School, was a Consensus All-American at The University of Notre Dame and an 11 year veteran of the NFL (Packers, Raiders and NYG). He uses the platform God has given him to speak to students in Catholic Schools. Mike says, “God has given us unique talents and abilities. He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb. He has a plan and purpose for our lives and He has given us a great gift -- our free will." Mike cites Elizabeth Murray, a homeless teenager, who made a choice not to be like her parents and made it to Harvard University. Her story is entitled Homeless to Harvard. |
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| Mike also says God’s plan for their lives is not the “land mines” in field of life (Sex, Alcohol and Drugs) because they usually lead to destruction and depression. Mike McCoy Ministries has spoken to over 35,000 students in Catholic Schools. They have intervened in 35 suicides (from comment cards handed in at the end of assemblies), numerous depressions, cutting, many drug and alcohol problems and sexual abuse. Unfortunately, as Mike has said “the students in Catholic Schools are not immune from our culture”. Many students have been encouraged in their faith and the right choices they are making. The principal from Quincy (IL) Notre Dame HS, Ray Heilmann, said “Mike’s most important Legacy is what he is doing now.” To learn more about MMM Inc., visit Mike's web site or call him at (706) 654-5802. |
Reflections from the NDSA Chair – John Hoffman The tale of the numbers is stark and painful. Unemployment exceeds 9 %. Market valuation of typical investments has been stagnant for a decade. These realities have a disturbing impact on many Americans. All of us know someone who is out of work, or whose retirement savings are no longer adequate. Frequently, those in these circumstances are there due to events largely beyond their control. Notre Dame Seniors fill these ranks in disturbing numbers. My informal guess is that thousands of our seniors (age 55 and older) are directly touched. They have lost their jobs due to downsizing, re-engineering, or outright collapse. Their savings have disintegrated as they deal with sagging investments and escalating costs. Many no longer know where to turn. They need a job and can’t find one. They are angry, or frustrated, or depressed. Some tell me they feel abandoned by their friends, ignored by their university, and left to ponder the question “Am I Alone?” |
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Of course they are not alone, but it sure feels that way. Club events are no longer satisfying; it is frustrating to hear others talk about their jobs, their retirements, and their successes. Notre Dame publications and mailings tell the stories of successes, or offer support to young alums, or ask for gifts and benefactions but do little to acknowledge the problem many of our Seniors face. |
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The Last Game Rockne Coached In the fall of 1930, Knute Rockne and Notre Dame football were riding high. The Fighting Irish hadn’t lost a game since a trip to USC at the end of the 1928 season. Since then, they marched through an unusual season in 1929, going 9-0-0 to capture the mythical national championship. The winning streak continued through all of the 1930 season, ending with a mark of 10-0-0 and another national crown, their third in seven years. No fewer than seven Irish stars merited some sort of All-American honor in 1930 – quarterback Frank Carideo, halfbacks Marchy Schwartz and Marty Brill, fullback Joe Savoldi, guard Bert Metzger, end Tom Conley and tackle Al Culver. The 42-year-old Rockne had now spent nearly half his life affiliated with Notre Dame since arriving as a 22-year-old freshman in 1910. His 13-year stint as head coach of the Irish had produced an amazing record of 105-12-5. He was in demand as a syndicated newspaper columnist, selector of All-America teams, radio commentator, motion picture advisor, as well as an expanded role motivating sales executives of South Bend’s Studebaker car company. |
| On the southeast edge of the Notre Dame campus stood one of his proudest works, newly erected Notre Dame Stadium. After years of advocating for its building, and fine-tuning the details of its design, Rockne saw his Irish dedicate the Stadium with a 26-2 whipping of Navy on October 11, 1930. It was one of three highly-visible national rivalries involving the Irish, starting with Army (1913) and adding two under Rock’s watch – USC (1926) and Navy (1927). Games against two of those rivals marked the exciting end to the 1930 campaign. First, the Irish rallied to edge Army, 7-6, in front of nearly 110,000 fans at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Then, on December 6 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, ND crushed archrival USC, 27-0. Even Rockne’s poor health, which forced him to coach much of 1929 from hospital beds and gurneys, had shown some improvement in 1930. It would end, of course, on the stormy morning of March 31, 1931, when Rockne and seven others perished in an airplane crash in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas. But it may surprise many Irish supporters to learn that the Dec. 6, 1930 triumph at Southern Cal was not the last football game Rockne ever coached. (Click here to continue ) |
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Down Syndrome: Two ND Senior Alumni are Making a Difference
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Support for persons with Down syndrome has now moved on to a new phase. The encouraging facts are that scientists are beginning to identify the sources of the learning difficulties in persons with Down syndrome. In fact, a couple of ND Senior Alums have started a foundation to support this research. You may have read about Research Down Syndrome (RDS) in Notre Dame Magazine last summer. Dan Flatley and Bob Schoen, both Class of 1975, founded RDS to support research that could potentially lead to biomedical therapies that would aid memory, learning and communication in persons with Down syndrome. Interestingly, this research may also lead to an increased understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and a potential treatment, as persons with Ds have a 3rd copy of a gene associated with AD. Would parents make a different choice if they received a more positive prognosis for their child? You can learn more about this incredible research by contacting Dan or Bob, or clicking here for more information. Perhaps consider sharing this information with others who have a relative or friend with Down syndrome. |
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We Want To Hear From You! NDSA has tracked the hits to our website since we’ve initiated the Golden Domer, and we’re really gratified by the response we’ve seen from alumni of all ages and other friends of the University. The logical next step is to encourage our readers to become a part of the Golden Domer. If you’d like to comment on any of our stories or suggest/submit one of your own, please email us at editor@ndsenioralumni.org with anything you’d like to share with your fellow alumni and friends of Notre Dame. Include a phone number where we can reach you, and we will be happy to talk with you about it. |
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Jack Fitzpatrick's Unique Path To Becoming An Alum Jack Fitzpatrick, who attended Notre Dame in the 1940's, was a member of the 1944 Men's National Championship Golf Team (the only one to date). He never graduated, primarily due to service in WWII, but was granted Membership in the Notre Dame Alumni Association on September 24, 2011. This action was recommended by the Men's Golf Coach, Jim Kubinski, and approved by the NDAA Board earlier in September. The presentation to Jack was made by the NDAA Region 17 (Florida) Director Jim Zavertnik ‘79, in Vero Beach, Florida. Jim Kubinski initiated this by talking with the Alumni Association Executive Director Dolly Duffy ‘84. Jim’s good friend, Tom Hanlon '49, who volunteers each day to assist with the golf team’s mail delivery, Observer delivery, and other tasks, was a teammate of Jack's on ND’s 1944 Men's Golf National Championship team, ND’s lone championship to date. Both came to the university in the Fall of '43 as 17 year olds. They were called away just after their June '44 championship to serve two years at the end of WWII. Jack came back to ND in '46 (after his WWII service) but left in '48, having less than a year to go to graduate. Jack and Tom are the lone surviving members of our championship team. |
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| As Jim says, Tom told me that Jack left school with less than a year to go until graduation. Jim talked directly to Jack who said that his sole regret in his 85 years was his decision to leave ND and return home. Whatever the case, Jim says “I spoke to a man who lost his beloved wife, Rosemary, a couple years ago and who is without children or surviving family members. He sounded strong on the phone, very happy with the 85 years he has had and thankful for all his blessings.” Jack’s stating that he had no regrets in life other than not completing his degree at Notre Dame really struck a chord in Jim. Jack never did earn a college degree. But he went to work for Firestone in his hometown of Akron, OH and became an Executive VP, at one point in charge of the entire European Division for Firestone. He had a very successful career, and yet, Jim says “here he is wishing he had finished his ND degree. He was not looking for anything but just said this to a guy (me) who he had reached out to several years ago, writing to wish me well just after my hire at ND in '05.” |
 Jack Fitzpatrick and Jim Zavertnik '79 |
Jim really wanted to do something for Jack to somehow make up for the fact that he never got the ND degree. Jack won a National Championship at Notre Dame. He served our country in WWII. He accomplished many things professionally. He has given charitably throughout his life. He thought it would be a great thing if ND could offer some recognition to him, a mulligan in life for the only regret he has ever had. Jack was very appreciative of the fact that we reached out to him and that to some extent the biggest regret in his life, leaving ND, had been addressed. After the presentation, Jim Zavertnik said it was a privilege to meet him and to represent ND and the NDAA board in making the presentation. |
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Ms. Fernandez, Chris Avila '01 |
Seventy Somethings and Second Graders During the April 2011 meeting of the Notre Dame Senior Alumni Board, then Chairman Mike Squyres ’63 ‘64 read a request from Yolanda Fernandez, a second grade teacher at Burnet Elementary, a public school in El Paso, announcing that her class had “adopted Notre Dame”. Ms. Fernandez explained she had been teaching her students the importance of education and that they should strive to attend college. Evidently, ND’s appearance in the Sun Bowl had a positive local effect which is probably why we were “adopted”. Ms. Fernandez ended her note asking if it was possible to send her a souvenir from the University to place in her classroom. |
Senior Alumni Project Competition
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These Initiatives are fully described on the NDSA web site. But your proposals are not limited to these. Any project that enhances the “Six C’s” will be considered. |
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